Much was at stake Monday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins. A win for Pittsburgh would mean keeping their one-game advantage over the Ravens for the AFC North title. A win for Miami would keep their playoff hopes alive, even if it would be a minute possibility.
Ultimately, the Steelers dominated the Dolphins 28-15, thanks to a second-half offensive explosion and a dreadful third quarter by the Miami offense. Now that the dust has settled on the win, Pittsburgh can claim victory over the Dolphins in another way as well.
The blockbuster trade between these teams this offseason was finally put to the ultimate test, as Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith both played pivotal roles in the Steelers' victory. Meanwhile, Minkah Fitzpatrick was forced to do his best to help his defense hold on with no help from the Dolphins' offense. It didn't help that he got bodied by DK Metcalf, either.
It's clear after MNF that Pittsburgh is the winner of the swap...at least for now.
Pittsburgh Steelers-Miami Dolphins offseason blockbuster has a clear winner for the 2025 season
There is plenty of time left for the ultimate winner of this trade to be determined, as all three players involved have contracts that extend until at least next season. Ramsey's deal, and how it ages, will likely be the determining factor. He is under contract at a hefty price until 2028, while Smith and Fitzpatrick are set to hit free agency following the 2026 season.
For now, though, it's clear that Pittsburgh is closer to reaching the goal for which the trade was made.
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They now sit at 8-6 on the season, are in firm control of their division, and have had their secondary issues saved by Ramsey's versatility. Injuries and poor play quickly depleted most of the safety rotation that the Steelers began the year with, which paved the way for the former Dolphin to essentially replace the role Fitzpatrick once had on their defense.
Smith has mostly disappointed as a Steeler, but he has had his moments this year and played a part in their win this week against his former employer. While he may end up as a cap casualty this offseason, the rationale for including him in the deal made sense at the time.
Fitzpatrick, to his credit, has had a strong season in his return to South Beach. With the Dolphins eliminated from playoff contention, however, it may be all for naught.
Unless he signs an extension with the team before hitting free agency in 2027, it's likely he won't be a part of a winning team while back in Miami. Bad teams still need players to fill out their roster, but paying top money for a lower-impact position during a potential rebuild isn't ideal.
It will be interesting to see how these players fair over the next few years, but until proven otherwise, the Steelers have to feel good about the exchange.